Los Angeles County, California
First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 11s with 10mph from the E.
First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 11s with 10mph from the E.
Best window·Sunday 9AM–12PM·3-4ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Latigo Canyon, Los Angeles County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 12s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 11s with 10mph from the E. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 18s with 10mph from the ENE. Onshore flow builds through the day to 16mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 16s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair - Good. The sweet spot is around midday — 3-4ft waves, light winds out of the WSW, good conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3+ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3+ft on S swell at 13s with gentle NW breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 13mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Latigo Canyon turns Good.
Check Latigo Canyon from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Latigo Canyon sits along the Malibu coast where coastal canyons create unique bathymetry that shapes incoming swells into quality beach breaks. The beach setup here offers relatively consistent peaks with a mix of sandbar formations that shift seasonally, providing varied wave quality throughout the year. This Malibu area spot works best during fall and winter swells when NW to W swell wraps around the point-rich coastline, with easterly offshore winds helping shape cleaner walls.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Latigo Canyon is 1-2ft with a 10.5s swell period. Wind is ESE at 9mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Latigo Canyon is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.3ft SSW primary swell at 11s, a 1.2ft WSW wind swell swell at 5s, a 0.9ft SSW tertiary swell at 16s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Latigo Canyon is Sunday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 14.3s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Latigo Canyon works best with a SW swell and E winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Latigo Canyon. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Latigo Canyon is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Latigo Canyon sits along the Malibu coast where coastal canyons create unique bathymetry that shapes incoming swells into quality beach breaks. The beach setup here offers relatively consistent peaks with a mix of sandbar formations that shift seasonally, providing varied wave quality throughout the year. This Malibu area spot works best during fall and winter swells when NW to W swell wraps around the point-rich coastline, with easterly offshore winds helping shape cleaner walls.
The prime season at Latigo Canyon is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Latigo Canyon include localism, crowded during quality swells, rocks near canyon mouth. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Latigo Canyon forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
